Draft-gear.



J, F. COURSON. Dam-GEAR. APPLICATION FILED'JAN. 19,1915.

Patented Aug. '10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1A WIT/VESSES f j. F. GOURSON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 1111119.11115.

15149233. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- a a l Wieesses:

JOHN F. COURSON, OF PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

' DRAFT-GEAR.

Appli'oatonled January 19, 1915. Serial No.l3,080.

T0 all Iwhom 'it may conce-rn Be it known that I, JOHN F. CoURsoN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitcairn, in the county 'of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in draft gears o f the class using springs and friction shoes in connection with centrally arranged expanding wedge mechanism operable upon buiing or pulling to effect expansion of the friction shoes within an embracing cylinder or casing.

The particular object in view is to provide ina gearI of this type means for effecting the resumption of the parts to normal position,

the maintenance of the parts in a free, open relaxed condition, and means for positioning the parts and for compensating for wear or resulting lo'st motion.

In the construction as herein presented,

i. the specific application of the invention is in connection with the central expanding `wedge or pressure bar, and a spring there- With associated, with a centralizing expanding and positioning wedge device in co-acting engagement with the friction shoes.

The objects in view are accomplished, in certain preferred forms of the apparatus, more` fully hereinafter described, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which'- I Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the completegear as assembled, the paits being shown in eX- tended position, as indicated by.' the section liney I. I. of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 'is a similar sectionaliview, showing the gear/compressed..

vFig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, indicated by the line III. III. of Fig. 1. Fig. 4

ing collar. Fig. 5 a similar view of-one ofthe friction shoes. Fig. 6v is a partial longitudinal sectional View, similar to Fig. 1,1 showing a 'modifiedconstruction ofthe central expanding wedge. Fig.`7 is asimilar View,l -showing a' further modified 'arrangement, utilizing a vfollower'extending through thccar framing, indicated by the section line. VII. VII. ofFighS. Fig. 8 is a horizontaljsectional View. ofthe saine construction, indicated- ,byv the I section lline VIII.'VIII. `of Fig perspective 'view-f wedge as used @intr-a1.' 'expanding Specification of Letters Patent.

'a .Fig-9 is a dean. lwith fheiaiye 'modifies icon,

Patented aug. io, i915.

constructions of Figs. 1 to G inclusive,bears" forwardly against front stops 1l, 12, secured in the upper and lowerportions of the car framing respectively, as shown. Stop 11 is permanent and secured by rivets, as shown, to the center sills and cover plate 13, while stop 12 is laidalong underneath the edge of the sills and bears fo'rwardlv against shoulder l1 of a supporting bracket 15, which is secured up underneath lthe lower edge of the sills at each side. Said bracket is provided with a sliding yplate 1G, upon which follower 10 may slide, and such construction provides for the easy removal of all of the working parts of the4 gear by merely removing `the cotters l), which hold the key 10 and plate 16 in position.,` n

A central wedge 'blockor buffing pressure bar-'18 bears directly against the reai1 central-portion of follower 10y by its flange end 19, and said wedge block is provided with angularly disposed wedge faces 20 of pyrainidal or other suitable arrangement` corresponding in number and degree of slope .to the .inner` faces `of expanding wedges 2l, said faces tapering inwardly toward-"the center at such an, angle `toward the horizontal as to produce a maximum eX- pansion with resulting free release. is a perspective detail view of theexpandl TWedges orl wedge blocksl 21 bear outwardly against the inner faces of a plurality'of friction shoes 22 arrangedin an annular series within the casing 9` and adapted to frictionally engage the inne'r,

preferably tapered, surface thereof. Said the faces of a rear expanding Wedge 25.

Main springs26 are inserted within the rear end of the casing 9, bearing against the rear inner end thereof, and against 'the rear ends of shoes 22 respectively, inria wellknown" manner.

Each of the segmental-shaped friction the arrangement of the pai'ts is substantially`- shoes 22 is provided at its front portion thesaine as above described, and identified with av wedging surface 27 across the inner by corresponding numerals with the expoface of the shoe and between the radial faces nenta. In such constructions,howeveigthe Q8, which define a narrower front extension central -wedge 18a either bears directly of the shoes beyond the shoulders :29 at against the follower, as does the spring, or each side, back of which the main body porthe Wedge is provided with the flange 19a at tions of the-shoes are practically in contacteach .side of an intervening recess 35 (see ing engagement with each other, with slight Fig. 9), thereby permitting the front end ofclearance. y.

rlhe purpose of soproviding wedge faces face of flanges 19a. A slight clearancea may 27 and the narrowed lfront extension offthe be provided, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 shoe in the same region is to provide for to insure avoidance of any lack of free oper-- the insertion of the expanding collar' 30 ation of the spring, therebyl insuring` its (see Fig. 4). positive engagement against the follower, Said collar, as shown, is provided with a while at the same time positively engaging spring 84a to abut directlyagainst the i'ear central opening 31, by which it fits around the flanges 1,9q to retract the wedge. In such or over the central wedge 18, and is pro- (construction, the pressure is transmitted di` vided with alternating wedge4v faces 32 and rectly between the rear edge of follower 10a Y' dividing separating projections 88. When .and thtJ front edges of the central wedge 185, in position, faces 32 make contacting en" due to the clearance provided by omitting gagenient with face 27 of the friction shoes, -the flange, thas insuring direct transmission and extensions 33 fit between and definitely of the strains either'in'bufiing or pulling. space apart the front portions of the shoes, In Fig. lO', l show the simplest arrangeas is clearly shown in Fig. 3. ment of the several constructions, the central Inserted between the front face of cX-v wedge engaging directly against the friction panding collar 8O and the rear face of flange shoes. The construction, arrangement and 19 of the central wedge 18 is a retractiiig spring 3l, the purpose of which is to thrust the central wedge outwardly upon release of pressure in either bulfing oi pulling, where- I by to eectively release it and permit the several parts to resume their normal inopoperation of the gear is otherwise the saine as has been above described. Y

The invention will be readily understopd from the foregoing description` It greatly facilitates the action of the gear in insuring constant maintenance of the desired relative era-tive position. Central wedge 18 is of the arrangement of the co-acting parts, compenfloating type, being unconnected with and sating for any lost motion or wear of the free of restrain by any connection with the shoes with relation to the inner surface of rear portion of the gear. y

Inl normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, spring or springs 26 being expanded upon release of` the gear, spring Sfoperates to thrust the central wedge 18 outwardly, car-v rying follower 10 before it, at the same time releasing the parts from binding strain. Upon closing of the gear in pulling, Ithe casing.9 will be drawn with its contents forwardly against the central wedge 18 resisted by follower 10, effecting expansion of the friction-creating mechanism; while in buffing, rearward movement of drawbar 2 thrusts wedge 18 inwardly by follower 10, effecting the same result. In either case, spring 34C will effect inward pressure against 'collar 30; providing a certain initial wedg-` .ing expansion of the front portions'of the the relative position lof the parts, thereby 'l providing for prompt accurate action and,l full development of its efliciency. i

The" invention may be changed or iiiodified in construction or detail arrangement b v the skilled mechanic, but all such changes 4are to be considered as within the scope .of

the following claims.

lhat `I, claim is: l. In a friction draft gear embodying a casing. friction shoes therein. anda ccnshoes,and in all cases the resilience of spring tially disposed expanding wedge, the combi-` 84, which is normally 'always iindei some nation therewith `of an expanding vand laticompression, will keep collar 8O tightly seateral spacing collar engaging n the friction' ed against.thevarious wedgiiig faces 27 so as shoes, A-aiid a spiingadapted to exert inward to -maintain `the shoes always', in operative l position with relation to the casing. At the saine tiine,.tlieI spacing extensions 88 will maintain the shoes in properannular relationship. v Y u In Athe' construction shown on the second sheet of the drawings, Figs. G to 9 inclusive,

pressure on said collar." g 2. In a friction draft gear enibodyingfa" casing, friction shoes'th'erein having expanding wedge facesfand' a vvcentrally disf' posed expanding wed'ge, the combination therewith of an expanding and lateral spacing collar having wedge faces engaging the ing between the shoes, and aspring adapted wedge faces of the shoes, and a spring vadapted to lexert inward pressure Aon said collar.

In a friction .draftv gear embodying a...v

easing, friction shoes therein having eX- therewith" of 'an Aexpanding col'lar" having wedge faces engaging xthe wedge faces of the Y shoes and lateral spacing projections extendto exert inward pressure onfsaid collar.

et, In -a'draft gear,- the combinationy ofa casing, friction shoes therein, a central expanding avedge, a drawbarpa. wedgingand lateral spacing colla-r engaging the friction slices, and a spring inserted between "said collar, and :the drawbar.

"5.' In a draft gear, the combination of a casil'ig, frictionshoes therein, "a central eX- pandrng wedge, a drawbar, a wedging-collar having wedge faces and spacing 'projections engaging the friction shoes, and a spring inserted between said collar and the drawba-r.

' ln a draft gear, the combination of a casing, friction shoes therein having outer projecting portions and wedge faces inwardly thereof, a central expanding wedge, a drawbar, means connecting-the casing and drawhar, a wedging collar,I engaging the wedge faces of the friction shoes inwardly beyond said projecting portions, and a spring inserted between said collar and the drawbar p.

7. In a draft gear, the combination of a casing, friction shoes therein, a central' expanding wedge, a drawbar, a follower, a`

wedging collar engaging the friction shoes independent ofthe casing and a spring inserted between said collar and the follower. 8. In a draft bar, the combination of a casing, friction shoes therein, a central expanding wedge, a 'drawbar, a follower, a wedging, and spacing colla-r engaging the friction shoes, and a spring surrounding the expanding wedge between saidcollar and the follower and directly engaging the latter.

9. In a draft gear, the combination of a casing, friction shoes therein, a central expanding wedge -having at its forward end a central directly abutting portion and ylateral follower-embracing portions extending forwardl'yof said'afbutting portion and providing intervening clearance openings, a draw-l bar, a follower engaging the' expanding `wedge betweensaidenibracing portions, a

` wedging 'collar' enga the" frictionshqes,

Mld ai Spring aulfleunslils.,the? @.krridingwedge between said collar and the follower and directly engaging.` \thea:lat-ter" at ysaid clearance openings. l. g 4, v 10. In a ,draft-gear, the? combination of a casing, friction shoestherein havin inner wedge faces, a cental".x1`)andiiig; wedge,-ja o o-acting rear expanding. wedge engaging said faces,"a drawbar,'a follower, a wedgi'ng collary surrounding .they centralf;wedgev and engaging the friction shoes, and arlspring inserted between sai`dgcol'l'ariag-aiid thefollower.

friction draft gear, the combina'- Vtion of-a casing, friction shoes the1ein'-iaifing expanding wedge 'faces at th'eirfront ends, a centrally disposed expanding wedge'` adapted to force the friction shoes laterally against the casing, an expanding collar having wedge faces engaging the wedge faces at the front ends of thefrictionshoes, and a spring adapted to exert inward pressure on. said collar and4 to move it with thel friction shoes within the casing.` Y j 5' 13. In a draft gear, the combination of a. casing, friction shoes therein having wedge. faces, a central expanding wedge, a drawbar,l and means operatively connecting it. w ith the casing for transmission of buiiing' and pulling strains, -a wedging collar within 'tlnie"` friction shoes and engaging the wedge faces..- .thercof anda spring engaging theexpand#` ing wedge and said collar and adapted to move inwardly ofthe friction shoes therewith. g

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfixniy JOHN' r. conRsoN.

Witnesses;

A. B. MGBRIDE, O. M. CLARKE.A

It ie hereby'icertied that in Letters Patent No 1,149,7"33I granted August 10,

191115,:1pon the application of John F.'Courson, of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, for anI improvementin Draft-Gears, errors appear 'rn the printed specification reqnrng correction as fellows: Page 3, .line 42, claim 8, for the Word barf read gear; same' page, name of second-mentionedwt-ness to signature of patentee, for 0. M. Clarke read 0. M. Clarke; and that the said Letters Patent 4should be read with 'these corrections therein that the same may conform -tothe record of the oase in the signed and @and .this 14th day of December, 4A. n., 1915'.-

n. F. WHITEHEAD, Acting Commissioner of PatentsA 

